Liberalism and Left Wing

[tbaldwin]

The problem is that socialism in a parliamentary context will always be reformist and half-hearted, despite the best intentions of individual MPs, party members etc, because the structure of the institution of "parliamentary democracy" itself doesn't allow for "genuine socialist alternatives" to be realised. Bear in mind that even the greatest socialist victory of the 20th century, the NHS, was eroded by compromise before it even began, and continued to be compromised.

Well yes the NHS is a good example of the good and bad side of reformism. Personally id much rather have the NHS warts and all than a US style system which is much more expensive and downright callous.
Genuine socialist alternatives come from not stopping at reformism but pushing and extending democratic control.
At least the reformists can look at the welfare state and say yep far from perfect but it has done some great things. What can revolutionaries say? We beat the poll tax......apart from that generally jack shit......magic wands only appeal to fantasists......

 

[Nigel]

Good example of the liberal lefts attitude towards Universal Health Care from Cammile Paglia.
As long as they can play a middle class paternalistic role, be in a privilaged position and get their cut that is their main priority.

Anything that genuinly emancipates or benefits working class people without these 'incentives' is always criticised.

Another example is Booths attitude towards charity after seeing a blind beggar making more money than average middle class wage or salary: Charity as a way of making shore that the middle class get their cut!
".....Face it: Virtually all nationalized health systems, neither nourished nor updated by profit-driven private investment, eventually lead to rationing."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2009/08/12/town_halls/index.html